Seniors council starts weekly farmers market

Sunday

Those with limited means and access to food now can buy cheap, fresh seasonal produce such as beets, kale, collards and more through a new farmers market at the Athens Community Council on Aging.

The farmers market was made possible through ACCA's Senior Hunger Coalition, "Squash Senior Hunger," and its partnerships with the University of Georgia's Campus Kitchen, the University of Georgia Food and Nutrition Program, the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia and Athens Land Trust. All of the produce sold in the farmers market is provided by UGArden, a student-run community garden.

Through its partnerships with agencies that share a similar mission to end hunger in the Athens community, ACCA hopes the nutrition and food security status of older adults who visit the farmers market will be positively affected.

"There's a common misconception from older adults that fresh produce is too expensive, and there's a lack of transportation for many of them to access farmers markets," said ACCA Chief Operating Officer Eve Anthony. "It was our goal to tackle both of these barriers by offering a market at a location older adults already frequent, offering produce at a low price and by accepting EBT cards."

The produce being offered through the farmers market is in addition to produce already offered through ACCA's two community gardens. Last summer, the community gardens harvested more than 400 pounds of produce distributed to clients in the agency's Center for Active Living and Meals on Wheels programs.

The produce stand will be open every Monday at 9 a.m. for ACCA clients and at 10:30 a.m. for the general public.

The cost of produce is $2 per pound, or $1 per pound with an EBT card. All money collected through the produce stand will be invested back into the farmers market, and any extra funds will go to benefit UGArden.